Document filing device



a- G. A. PHILLIPS 1,817,930

noqumsn'r FILING DEVICE Filed 001:. 2. 1929 Geary: fir/lwr Phi/lips INVENTO R;

Patented Aug. 11, 1931 EFNETE FFI DOCUMENT FILING nnvron Applicationfiled October 2, 1929, Serial No;

One object of this invention is to so improve loose leaf books, files,and the like wherein sheets are assembled on pillars, that access to anysheet will be facilitated, and

such sheet can be positioned flatly to allow it to be easily written on,or its contents easily read, without the user having to hold either thatsheet or the sheet facing it, or having to make temporary adjustments,such as varying the length of pillars.

Another object is to so improve document files that the pillars can bemounted in any of several positions on a tray or similar base.

A further object is to apply hinge devices to pillar files to enable auser to vary beneficially the position of the documents as the files areopened, as compared with their position when the files are closed. Inknown files pillars extending downwardly coact with others extendingupwardly, each passing through a slot or perforation in the papers, anda top cover plate from which pillars extend downwardly is retainedagainst displacement by a spring clip fixed to a base;

but in that arrangement the sheets are tightly gripped at their marginsso that marginal and adjacent parts cannot conveniently be inspected bya user when he opens the file, as the sheets do not naturally lie fiatand wide apart, but have to be held apart, usually by hand, duringinspections and the making of entries. I provide each file with afitting which allows the filed sheets to be widely opened so that theylie fiatlybookwise, and

5 naturally stay so without being held.

My fitting has hinged members which include lower plates or leaves,integral with or attached to a base,such as a tray, drawer bottom, orpart of a file cover; and has an upper plate or leaf carrying pillarsnormally rising about vertically or at right-angles over the basebutsaid pillars can be swun outwardly so that the papers on file can belocated more conveniently for reference;

then the pillars will be approximately horizontal instead of vertical,.and the position of the back edges of the papers will also be changedsimilarly.

Hinges are not necessarily fixturesas 396,622, and in Australia October11, 1928 when desirable they include separable elements so that the basecan be detached.

I illustrate-diagrammatically-in the drawings herewith, in which thescales difier,embodiments of my invention; details will vary accordingto the type of file or holder to which the invention is applied.

Figure l is a perspective sectional View of part of a tray carrying afile of papers or sheets.

Figure 2 shows, in end elevation, part of Figure 1, but with the sheetsopened bookwise, so that the pillars have taken new positions.

Figure 3 shows part of Figure 2 in perspective with sheets and upperhinge parts iwung over to illustrate details at the hinge ase.

Figure 4 shows in perspective-without sheetsa file as in Figure 1,withinstead of a tray-a cover of book form, parts only of which areshown.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a tray, three sides of which arefitted with lower elements of hinges to allow a user to attach at anyside a pillar-carrying file member which is fitted with upper elementsof hinges.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of file parts having relatively numerouspillars.

In these drawings, A is a base, such as a tray, drawer bottom or coverunderpart, to which is attachedas by rivetslower hinge elements 13, towhich an upper hinge element, shown as a leaf B is jointed as at B Filepillars C project upwardfrom leaf B in the case of Figures 1, 4: and 6,and may be of any suitable type, that is continuous or in sections, andstraight or curved, the pillars illustrated being straight. D is anupper binding plate which carries downwardly extending pillars D bearingagainst the'plate B and the pillars C and D may form pairs-see Figure 6.

The pillars retain the assembled sheets E, and the file may haveprotective covers E Figure 1and plate D may be retained againstdisplacement by, for example, a spring clip F, one end thereof beingattached to the leaf B as shown in Figure 3.

As shown by Figure 4, the file may have a cover of book form, that ishaving connected to base A, a back A carrying an upper cover A As shownby Figure 5 assembled sheets can 5 be attached to one or other of theedges of the base A, by reason of the presence of a pluralit-y o't hingelower elements B, at different edges of the base.

Sockets on these elements can be engaged by upper hinge elements, shownas pins B", of the leaf B I provide means to prevent accidentalseparation of the hinge elements when in connected position. Thus Iprovide a pin B against which edge B abuts when in closed position.

As seen in Figure 1, hinge leaf B is horizontal or superposed on leaf Bwhen the file is closed, but when the file is swung fully open, leaf Bmoves in an are into a new lo- 90 cation shown by Figures 2 and 3without any shitting oi: base A; and in the Figure 2 position, which ischaracteristic of my construction, there are material advantages,leat Bthen extending upwards and the pillars extending outwards.

I claim 1.. In loose sheet holders, a base, sheet-filing devices, andhinged means of connection of the devices with the base, comprisinghinge sockets on the base an d. hinge pins carried by the filingdevices, whereby the latter swing in an are away from the base tore-position the sheets as in opening a book, the said pins beingdisconnectible from and reconnectible to said sockets, the sockets beinglocated at a plurality of edges of said base to enable lo cation of thefiling devices at any of said edges.

2. In loose sheet holders, a base, sheet- 60 filing devices, and hingedmeans of connection of the devices with the base, comprising hingesockets on the base and hinge pins carried by the filing devices,whereby the latter swing in an are away from the base 2 to repositionthe sheets as in opening a book, the said pins being disconnectible fromand reconnectible to said sockets, the sockets being located at aplurality of edges oi said base to enable location of the filing devicesat any of said edges, the pins being slidable relatively to the sockets.

3. A file to hold assembled sheets, having a base carrying a pluralityof sets of hinge sockets and filing devices having separate sets .5 0tpillars for sheet assembly and hinge parts adapted to slidably engageany selected set of sockets, and means to prevent accidentaldisplacement of said filing devices when the file parts are assembled.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name to this specificationat Melbourne in the State of VT -toria, in Australia, this fifth day ofSeptember, 1929.

GEORGE ARTHUR PHILLIPS.

